Tendinopathy
Pain, stiffness and weakness caused by the degeneration of the tendons which connect muscle to bone.
Rest alone will not heal a damaged tendon. Recovery involves not just appropriate rest, but progressive loading exercises under the supervision of your physio, as well as hands-on therapy. Unfortunately, tendons are very slow to heal due to their lack of blood supply, meaning fewer nutrients and less oxygen for repair.
Full recovery can often take months, requiring consistency with a tailored physio plan to rebuild resilience and manage the healing process.
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What you’re feeling
Classic symptoms include pain, stiffness and weakness which often comes on once you start to exercise, eases off mid exercise and then returns after exercise.
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What can cause it
Tendinopathy is primarily caused either by chronic overuse, a sudden increase in tendon load or repetitive strain. If you have tendinopathy, a subsequent acute injury can lead to tendon tears.
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What you need to know
Patience and persistence is key as healing isn't fast - chronic cases can take between 3 and 6 months to improve. It’s crucial to follow your rehabilitation plan consistently.
While the pain can settle relatively quickly after starting treatment, the tendon is still a long way from being uninjured!
Flare ups are common but we can show you how to manage these and maintain long term health.
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How we help you
Your physio will design a personalised gradual loading exercise program to increase the strain on the tendon to stimulate repair. Graded activity exercises will gradually build load tolerance over time to get you back doing what you love!
We build bodies that don’t break.
We understand your body not just your injury. Expert physiotherapy focussed on lasting results. Healthier. Stronger. Happier.